Political Quotes

“My amendment would address two critical shortfalls in the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security appropriations bill: inadequate funding for communities devastated by recent disasters, and for first responder and antiterror programs. We have a responsibility to help rebuild homes and businesses following disasters throughout the South and Midwest where communities are reeling and families are mourning and rebuilding. Chairman Aderholt, whose Alabama district was devastated by tornadoes, took the first step in committee by increasing disaster relief funding, and I supported his efforts. My amendment builds upon his work to provide an additional $1.5 billion in disaster relief to help FEMA respond to needs that far exceed funding levels in this bill. Just as we have a responsibility, however, to help communities rebuild from natural disasters, we must help them prepare for and prevent manmade ones. Funding for FEMA's first responder grants as well as the proposed block grant structure provide inadequate levels to protect and prepare the top terror targets in the Nation or to keep our communities safe from fire hazards. The State Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative, Transit Security, Port Security, and additional grant programs will be forced to compete against each other for only two-thirds of the $1 billion provided for first responder grants, which is a cut of roughly $1.5 billion to the program.…”